01ACT I

02SCENE I. The King of Navarre’s park

03Enter Ferdinand, King of Navarre, Berowne, Longaville and Dumaine .

04KING.

05Let fame, that all hunt after in their lives,

06Live registered upon our brazen tombs,

07And then grace us in the disgrace of death;

08When, spite of cormorant devouring time,

09Th’ endeavour of this present breath may buy

10That honour which shall bate his scythe’s keen edge,

11And make us heirs of all eternity.

12Therefore, brave conquerors, for so you are

13That war against your own affections

14And the huge army of the world’s desires,

15Our late edict shall strongly stand in force.

16Navarre shall be the wonder of the world;

17Our court shall be a little academe,

18Still and contemplative in living art.

19You three, Berowne, Dumaine and Longaville,

20Have sworn for three years’ term to live with me,

21My fellow-scholars, and to keep those statutes

22That are recorded in this schedule here.

23Your oaths are passed, and now subscribe your names,

24That his own hand may strike his honour down